U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service halts demolition of Hadley Bri-Mar stable
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HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has temporarily halted its decision to demolish a building in Hadley that houses barn swallows.
On December 4, a 30 day review period was put into place on whether the federal agency should keep a nesting habitat for barn swallows. This comes the same day the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will demolish and remove Bri-Mar stable in Hadley.
The former stable has become home to a colony of barn swallows, a species in steep decline in New England. It’s where nearly 40 pairs of barn swallow nested this year. But, under the National Environmental Policy Act, the decision must first be made available for public review.
Andrew French, Manager at the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge told 22News that the public review will allow residents time to look over all of the information.
“The 30-day public review is a period of time that gives people time to look over information relevant to the decision and during the period of time we won’t take any action to start implementing the decision,” said French.
An organization, Save our Swallows, which doesn’t want the building to be torn down is urging the public to submit comments to Fish and Wildlife during the next 30 days to keep the stable.
Fish and Wildlife will make a decision after the review period has ended.
